Abdeslam Ouaddou Is Still Adapting to Life Without Relebohile Mofokeng Despite Reaching MTN8 Final
- Orlando Pirates secured their place in the MTN8 final with a 4-0 aggregate win over Sekhukhune United
- Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou addressed how the Buccaneers are coping without star playmaker Relebohile Mofokeng
- A football analyst warned Pirates could struggle against Mamelodi Sundowns without Mofokeng's big-game magic
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Orlando Pirates are heading to the MTN8 final, but questions about how they will cope without their former talisman Relebohile Mofokeng are growing louder. Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has addressed those concerns head-on after guiding the Buccaneers to a commanding 3-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the second leg of the semi-final, sealing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.
The Moroccan tactician did not shy away from acknowledging the gap left by Mofokeng, who departed for Belgium during the summer transfer window. Ouaddou spoke about the adjustments the squad has had to make in the absence of the young playmaker, who was widely regarded as one of the most electric players in the team.
Analyst Warns Pirates Could Feel Mofokeng's Absence Most in the Final
Football analyst Uche Anuma, speaking in an interview with Briefly News, backed Ouaddou's assessment while raising the stakes ahead of the final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
"Abdeslam Ouaddou is putting in the work at Orlando Pirates, and could achieve more than what he did last season, but there are clear indications that the team still misses Mofokeng and are adjusting to his absence," Anuma said.
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He went further, pointing to the timing of the final as a particularly telling test of the squad's depth. "They will miss him more in the final as we all know how Mofokeng always turn up for Pirates in finals before leaving for Belgium this summer."
Anuma also highlighted the nature of the task waiting for Pirates in the final. "They need to step up against Mamelodi Sundowns in the final, now that they no longer have Mofokeng in their ranks who mostly perform magic in decisive moments like this."
## Buccaneers Eye MTN8 Glory Against Sundowns
The semi-final victory over Sekhukhune United showed that Ouaddou's side remains a formidable unit even without their former star, but facing Sundowns in a cup final is a considerably stiffer challenge. The Buccaneers will need their remaining players to step into the void and deliver when it matters most.
For Ouaddou, the task is clear: shape a Pirates side capable of winning silverware in a new era, one where they can no longer rely on Mofokeng's individual brilliance to unlock tight matches at the biggest moments.
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Source: Briefly News
